Now this one surprised me - how come I've never come across this amazing guy before now?
It's a privilege to feature such a great performer and fab song!
Cool cool lyrics and a great original song! you need to listen to these incredibly talented people - check it out!
Category : Articles
Ok so this week's article looks at the sticky issue of how to promote your music.
You have some singing talent and get great responses from family members and from a few friends sitting around the house on the weekend. You do have a good voice and have learned some popular songs and may have even written a song or two of your own that people seem to like. Does this mean you are guaranteed to become famous and rich because of your music?
No, sorry, it doesn’t really work that way. Of course, the performers who have become household names draw hundreds, even thousands when the radio, television and newspaper folks simply mention the name. For independent musicians, bands and beginning singers it is necessary to put the word out that you are available for small performances and local gigs.
You can do this with a few different plans. One of the best methods, of course, is the Internet. In fact, social-network sites, free video sites and instant messaging should be used as a primary tool for promoting your music. Not only that, but you should consider such promotion materials as flyers (you can do them yourself on the home computer) and advertising in the local newspaper and on the local radio station.
The resources available at low cost for internet music production are amazing. Try the Music Marketing Manifesto - Advanced strategies, tactics and tips for selling your music on the internet, from major label recording artist John Oszajca.
If you have some luck getting a few local performances on the calendar, you might plan to have some materials available at the gig too. If you haven’t advanced far enough to offer T-shirts and CDs, you could prepare some flyers, hand-outs with artwork and information about yourself and anyone else playing/singing with you, or even make up some cards or small, colorful cards with graphics or photos on them. These will go quickly when you have them on a table or on the stage as you play.
At the next level of promotion you might give some thought to such items as bumper stickers, T-shirts and even posters. Remember, the more you offer about yourself the more people will remember you when it is time for your next performance. The key to good promotion is using the materials correctly. Don’t follow the leader, so to speak. Don’t offer T-shirts just because every other singer or band does. Do it because it would be one of the good ways to present your musical talent.
The other side of promotion involves giving away too much stuff, especially if it is cheaply made and looks unprofessional. There is a happen medium when it comes to promotion materials. Be sure you choose quality over quantity. Have just enough for what you need and maybe a few more pieces just to be safe. Try having a discussion with friends, other singers and with family members to find out what they think. It helps to get ideas from outside sources.
You can even go the whole hog and look at setting up your own label. If you're looking to this, you need ADVICE first. I use ReachFame, the biggest record label database online with 100s of A&Rs, industry listings, record producers etc.
When you are planning ways to promote your music, don’t make the words and art too small. Don’t make them too large either. There is a “just right” for promotional materials like posters, T-shirts, flyers and so on. Practice and become professional, then promote yourself. Good luck!
He's a young songwriter from Southern California named Matthew Jordan. Matthew has done a ton of awesome YouTube videos, both covers and originals. And I think his newest video, a cover of "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys, is his best yet.
Matthew manages to play every single instrument in the original record, sings all the harmony parts, and even adds his own twist. And the video is absolutely beautiful as well. I highly encourage you to check it out!
Category : Articles
One of the most successful writers in modern times once told an interviewer that writing is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration. It is possible to be struck by a great song idea and even have some lyrics pour out without a lot of effort. But this doesn’t mean the song is “finished.”
If you want to be a songwriter and singer you will eventually have to have an outline or a method to work with. If you rely on inspiration alone you may find yourself falling behind in the singing and songwriting world. If you want to perform songs written by others you will also need a plan of some sort, but that is another story altogether.
The most experienced songwriter in the world will still have to take some steps to make their final version of the song as good as it can be. Even the most successful performers in the world know that songwriting and performing becomes more difficult as time goes by. If you have talent and are creative you still need to learn every day and find ways to make your latest song just a little bit better than the last one.
Some of the people who provide songs to rock, pop, hip-hop and country stars use a method that is very close to the “cookie-cutter” plan. They may have a new melody and new lyrics but the overall structure of the song is about the same each time. For example, you might have a song that goes like this: Verse 1, Verse 2, Chorus, Instrumental Lead, Verse 3, Chorus, Repeat Chorus, End.
Writing songs successfully means doing some songwriting each day. Don’t worry about getting the first draft perfect! It’s fine to write two or three rough drafts of the lyrics, just as it is OK to get some basic chords down and make adjustments as you go. Even if you are very young and have a fantastic memory, make sure you get that song down on paper or on your computer. You may even want to look into getting one of the computer-songwriting programs.
If you are serious about songwriting and about singing, you should listen to music every day. Of course you don’t want to overload your mind with other ideas and you certainly don’t want to just imitate someone else. But you can get ideas from other singers. You may even be inspired by someone you hear and this may lead to your own great song! Try listening to some of the music that you like and hope to sound like. Then take some time to just let that sound “roll around” in your head.
If you are trying to write your own song or have spent some time learning a song but find yourself at a point where you can’t seem to move forward, that’s OK. It happens all the time. Just take some time away from the project and come back to it when you are more relaxed and fresh. Give the song a break and give yourself a break at the same time. That’s the key to good songwriting.
Need help songwriting? Check Out:
- Masters Of Songwriting - The Best Songwriting Book Around - Great For Songwriters Looking To Get To The Top In Today's Music Industry. Everything Is Here From Creating Commercial Songs, To Marketing, Digital Help, Global Covers, To Reading And Understanding Publishing Contracts.
- Professional Songwriting Secrets - A Professional Songwriter Finally Exposes His Hot Tips, Tricks, And Inside Techniques On How You Can Write Unique, Powerful, And Catchy Songs Anytime You Want.
